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CODE ARENA
The Latest Rules, Regulations and Codes Impacting Sustainable Construction
2021 IECC Slated for U.S. Debut
in Kansas City Code watchers. Kansas City hopes to become the first U.S. city
to adopt the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code.
CREDIT: MATTHEW ENDERSBE FLICKR
BY MIKE COLLIGNON
ANSAS CITY, MISSOURI plans to become the rst city
in the nation to adopt the International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC). That code, which has been
mired in multiple appeals from home builder trade
K associations, will be approximately percent more
e
cient than its predecessor. But how did this Midwestern city get
to this decision?
The city’s prior codes were based on the I-Codes, although this
energy code was weakened from the level. According to Karen
Uhlenhuth of the Energy News Network, “the local architectural Udall (D-New Mexico) in mid-June. The legislation’s main goal is
community and other clean energy promoters have been pushing to reduce production and use of certain single-use plastic products
the Kansas City Council to make a leap toward greater e
ciency in and packaging. But, it doesn’t stop there. Udall also wants to hold
all new construction”. Responding to this persistent call, the council plastic producers responsible for the collection and/or disposal of
adopted the I-Codes in late June, with the exception of the IECC. their consumer products and packaging. It’s all part of an eort
Because of the imminent publication of the IECC, the council to prevent pollution from consumer products and packaging from
felt it was more prudent to be patient. Otherwise, it would have entering into animal and human food chains and waterways.
incurred training costs for the IECC, only to later go through the If you read the eye-opening article titled “Planet Plastic”, published
code adoption and training process all over again. Council members in Rolling Stone magazine earlier this year, you already know that
also didn’t want to adopt a code that would immediately be outdated. plastic is extremely pervasive throughout our planet. In some regards,
A skeptical person might doubt whether the city council is going it might be too late to undo the damage caused by plastics.
to truly adopt the IECC. Council Resolution should put Senator Udall, who is retiring at the end of his term this coming
those concerns at ease, because it reiterates the city’s commitment to January, has a goal that is admirable and worthy. But he is facing
its own Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan, with goals to achieve severe headwinds – and he knows it. The beverage industry is
zero greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector citywide going to ght this just as fervently as the tobacco industry fought
by , percent greenhouse gas reduction from municipal its (overdue) government-forced accountability. That’s probably why
operations by , and to become climate neutral by to protect this bill has been stuck in the Committee on Environment and Public
the health and welfare of all its residents. “Adopting modern building Works since its introduction. If you’d like to see it gain traction,
codes,” the council notes, “is instrumental in meeting this goal”. It also contact your Senator today.
resolves that the city is basically waiting for the IECC to be published.
Since the initial voting results came in back in December , Mike Collignon is the executive director and co-founder of the Green
the city (and many other municipalities) have had ample time to see Builder Coalition.
®
what’s in the code. Even though a handful of proposals were reversed
by the International Code Council (ICC) Board, it largely remains
intact from that earlier outcome. COURTESY OF
One important note: Nothing will get enacted until at The Green Builder®Coalition
the earliest. The council will have to wait days after the code’s
publication before revisiting the matter. The Green Builder®Coalition is a not-for-profit association dedicated
to amplifying the voice of green builders and professionals, driving
ANTI-PLASTIC POLLUTION BILL NEEDS HELP advocacy and education for more sustainable homebuilding
Meanwhile in U.S. Congress, SB
, also known as the “Break Free practices. For more information, visit GreenBuilderCoalition.org
From Plastic Pollution Act of ”, was introduced by Sen. Tom
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